The custody of four suspects arrested in connection with the death of Asad Ali Leghari, the son of slain Sindh United Party (SUP) leader Anwer Ali Leghari, was handed over to Kotri police on Tuesday for further interrogations.

Asad was found dead under mysterious circumstances on October 30 in Tando Bago town of Badin district.

His four suspects ─ Faheem Ahmed Samoon, Furqan Magsi, Awais Ahmed Magsi and Tauseef Ahmed Memon ─ had claimed that Asad consumed some pills and liquor before suffering a fatal heart attack, however, the deceased's maternal uncle, Dr Naeem Memon, had said that his nephew was not an addict.

Dr Memon had registered a first information report against his nephew's four friends and claimed that Asad's alleged murder was part of a conspiracy against the Leghari family that had a strong political background.

According to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tando Bago police station, Hakim Ali Jalbani, custody of the four suspects was handed over to the SHO at Kotri police station, Siraj Lashari, on the directions of District Inspector General Hyderabad.

The transfer was ordered after Asad's relatives expressed dissatisfaction over the "poor performance" of Tando Bago police, Jalbani added.

A civil court in Tando Bago granted three days physical remand of the suspects to Kotri police after they were presented before the court.

Asad, 25, was an MSc final-year student of the US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCASW) at the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET). His family said he was a brilliant student and intended to proceed to the US to do his PhD afterwards.

According to the initial investigation, Asad along with his three friends — Furqan, Awais and Tauseef — went to Faheem's residence in Tando Bago after leaving a party they attended in the office of a housing scheme.

Asad felt unwell and when his condition deteriorated, his friends contacted Tando Bago town committee chairman Sahib Khan Jamali for his advice.

Later, Jamali brought Asad Leghari to the taluka hospital where he died minutes afterwards. Jamali reported the death to the police.

The body was collected by his uncles, Ameer Bukhsh Leghari and Dr Naeem Ahmed Memon after a post-mortem examination was performed.

All four of Asad’s friends were taken into custody for interrogation soon after his death was reported.

Asad’s father, Anwer Ali Leg­hari, was killed in a violent incident during the November 2015 local government elections in the Qasimabad area of Hyderabad.